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Culina to Prepare for World Cup in Holland

Qantas Socceroo Jason Culina to prepare for FIFA World Cup in familiar surroundings.

SOCCEROO midfielder Jason Culina will prepare for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in familiar surroundings, with the Gold Coast United captain set to train with Dutch giants, PSV Eindhoven, prior to joining up with the national team in May.

After declining other European offers in the January transfer window and also rejecting more recent overtures from clubs in Asia and the Middle East, Culina opted for the familiar surroundings of his former club to hone his fitness.

Following discussions with Socceroos Coach, Pim Verbeek, the Gold Coast United marquee man booked five weeks of training with PSV, from 1 April to 5 May, and says the decision was made easier once he knew the national team boss approved of the move.

Culina said: “The decision to go to PSV was made with Pim-s blessing and we both thought it was a very good idea for me to train at a very high level with a top European club.

“I had the option of going to Europe in January and to the Middle East or Asia a few weeks ago, but I declined those offers as PSV was always in the back of my mind.

“My decision was made easier by the standard of football in Holland and the quality of the training, which with all due respect, is higher than what I would find in Asia or the Middle East.

“I know the area, I know everyone there and they know me, so the transition will hardly be felt at all, which allows me to just slip right in and concentrate on doing what I-m there to do.”